Summer is a glorious gardening season, full of days drenched in life-giving sunshine. Alas, sometimes our garden gets a little too much of a good thing and the plants we love become stressed. That’s when I remind myself of the three W’s.
Water Wisely
When watering, long and slow is the best policy. Water tends to spread out faster than it sinks down into most soils. If you flood your garden beds, you’ll see runoff but the roots more than a few inches below the surface will still be parched. Long and slow watering allows time for water to sink down. It also encourages roots to grow deeply (rather than stay near the surface), which makes them stronger.
Watch Out
Hot weather tends to keep us near the air conditioning or by the pool. That’s when problems can crop up in the garden. Weeds can grow at an amazing rate during the summer. Warm weather combined with humidity makes for ideal conditions for fungus. Even insects can gain a foothold. Take a moment in the cool of the morning to wander through the garden and check for problems. A few moments of correction can save hours later in the hot sun.
Wait
When plants are stressed, it’s best not to make things worse. Delay transplanting, heavy pruning, and even fertilizing. Each of these activities spurs plants into a growth cycle when it’s better for them to be resting.
If you enjoy herbs and organic gardening, you'll want to meet Ann McCormick,
the Herb 'n Cowgirl. A life-long gardener, she has spent the last ten years
devoted to writing and speaking about her favorite subject. Ann contributes
to regional and national home and garden and life-style magazines, including
Organic Gardening, Country Woman, Gardening How-To, and Neil Sperry¹s
Gardens. The Herb 'n Cowgirl also shares her love of herbs and her gardening
techniques as a speaker and media guest. To find out more about the Herb 'n
Cowgirl visit her website at www.ann-mccormick.com.
